The PTA Council of Howard County thanks all those in our community for their contributions to PTA after-prom events. The commitment to help keep our teens safe on Prom night is sincerely appreciated.

The goal of the Project Safe After Prom is to keep our teens safe on a night when most junior and senior students will attend a party. Each year, the 12 high school PTAs in Howard County hold a chem-free after-prom event to advance PTA's goal of promoting child safety and well-being. Parents of teens know that telling their child to make good choices on prom night isn't enough; there is a real need for students to celebrate safely without peer pressure to engage in dangerous thrill-seeking behavior. Project Safe After Prom enjoyed great success this year with increased numbers of teens attending these fantastic, safe and supervised celebrations. We are very grateful to individuals, businesses and organizations whose donations made these events possible.

The council would like to especially thank those who donated to all 12 after-prom celebrations: Don Wilson of Liberty Mutual, the Howard County Public School System, Howard County General Hospital, the Columbia Association and Brunswick Bowling. Don Wilson of Liberty Mutual donated $1,000 in cash to each after-prom event, as well as a wrecked car displayed on each high school campus as a reminder for students to drive responsibly. The Howard County school system donated the services of two security guards at each after-prom celebration. Howard County General Hospital donated $300 to partner and $150 to non-partner school after-prom events. The Columbia Association donated facility passes and coupons for door prizes worth $160 at each after-prom event. Brunswick donated bowling passes for door prizes also.

PTAs couldn't have held these events to keep our high school teens safe on prom night without the help of donations from generous community members. Thanks to those who helped make prom night safety a reality in Howard County.

Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso, Dayton

Mary Ellen Creasy, Columbia

Mary Jane Barbato-Grauso is the president and Mary Ellen Creasy is the Project Safe After Prom chairwoman of PTA Council of Howard County.

Cancer's impact eased by Relay for Life event

About 1,000 people participated in this year's Howard County Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fundraising event, at Hammond High School on June 6 and 7. Participants in this overnight event included high school groups, youth groups, service clubs, churches, local businesses, government, families and friends. As of the end of the relay, $222,000 had been raised. We are hoping to increase this total since donations can be accepted through August 31.

A reception sponsored by Putting on the Ritz attracted 274 survivors. As in previous years, the event featured a Survivor's Lap, a Kids' Walk, a Luminaria Ceremony (where 1,700 luminaria were lit at dark) and a silent auction. New events included Ultrarunner Melissa Simmens, who ran for 12 consecutive hours during the Relay to support the event; the Extreme Relayer Club, where team members who raised at least $500 walked at least 20 minutes of every hour during the event; and Spirit Laps designed to keep relayers active long after the sun went down.

Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated. Monies from the event are used to support patient services, educational programs, research and advocacy programs.

Relay for Life could not have happened without the support of our corporate sponsors, 75 teams, Hammond High School and the public school system, county government and many volunteers.

Thanks to the hundreds of people who supported the Relay.

Meghan Kordusky, Arbutus

Meghan Kordusky chaired the 2008 Howard County Relay for Life.

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